Golf mat

Abstract

A golf mat includes artificial grass fibers attached to and extending upward from a backing material, which may be one or more layers. The artificial grass fibers include groups of at least two different kinds of fiber sewn through a common path in the backing material. One of the kinds of fibers in each group is shaped so as to appear like a blade of grass. The other kind of fiber in each group is pre-stressed/crimped so that the relaxed shape of the fiber is nonlinear, resembling a curlicued or articulated form having lateral excursions. The lateral excursions cause portions of one such pre-stressed fiber to overlap and interfere with another, forming a mesh. The height of the pre-stressed fibers in their relaxed state in the turf is less than the height of the relatively unstressed artificial grass fiber(s). The crimped fibers form a resilient mat with impact characteristics similar to natural turf.

1 . A golf mat comprising:
 a golf mat including   a backing;   a plurality of groups of fibers, wherein each group includes a combination of at least one resilient first fiber pre-stressed to have a non-linear shape with lateral excursions without applied tension, and at least one second fiber shaped to resemble a grass blade, wherein said first and second fibers of each group are sewn through a common path through said backing, and extend upward from said backing to a cut end, wherein said second fibers provide initial resistance to a golf club head impacting said mat, and said first fibers provide secondary resistance to a golf club head.   
   
   
       2 . A mat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first fibers extend upward from said backing a first height and said second fibers extend upward from said backing a second height greater than said first height. 
   
   
       3 . A mat as recited in  claim 2  wherein said second height is in the range of ⅞″ to 3″ inches, and said first height is in the range of ⅝″ to 2½″ inches. 
   
   
       4 . A mat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lateral excursions of a first fiber of a first group extend laterally to overlap a range of lateral excursion of a first fiber of a second group, so as to form a mesh. 
   
   
       5 . A mat as recited in  claim 4  wherein said groups are in rows separated by distances in the range of 0.350″″ to 0.375″″. 
   
   
       6 . A mat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first fibers are made from nylon. 
   
   
       7 . A mat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second fibers are made from polyethylene. 
   
   
       8 . A mat as recited in  claim 4  wherein said mesh is sufficiently dense so as to hold erect a golf tee with golf ball. 
   
   
       9 . A method of manufacture of a golf mat comprising:
 sewing into a backing a plurality of groups of fibers, wherein each group includes a combination of at lease one resilient first fiber pre-stressed so as to have a non-linear shape with lateral excursions when not under tension, and at least one second fiber shaped to resemble a grass blade, wherein said first and second fibers of each group are sewn through a common path through said backing, and extend upward from said backing to a cut end, wherein said second fibers provide initial resistance to a golf club head impacting said mat, and said first fibers provide secondary resistance to a golf club head.   
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein said first fibers extend upward from said backing a first height and said second fibers extend upward from said backing a second height greater than said first height. 
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein said second height is in the range of ⅞″ to 3″ inches, and said first height is in the range of ⅝″ to 2½″ inches. 
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein said groups are spaced apart such that lateral excursions of a first fiber of one group overlap lateral excursions of a first fiber of an adjacent group thereby providing a mesh. 
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said groups of first fibers are in rows separated by distances in the range of 0.350″″to 0.375″. 
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein said first fiber is made from nylon. 
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 9  wherein said second fiber is made from polyethylene.